Talking community leadership at the Community Shop

Who speaks for the community? What makes a good leader? What skills and qualities should a good community leader have? What support do you need to help make your community a better place to live?

These are some of the questions to be discussed over a coffee and biscuits at the Community Shop on Pennywell Road between 10am and 12 noon this morning.

The ‘conversation cafe’ is the latest in a series of informal consultation events taking place across Muirhouse and West Pilton over the coming weeks. Come along and have your say – the kettle’s on!

Woman assaulted and robbed on B&M steps

Police seek three men following West Granton Road incident

Police are appealing for witnesses following an assault and robbery on West Granton Road around 1pm yesterday (Saturday). A 41-year-old woman was walking down the steps near the B&M store (the former Gala Bingo) when she was assaulted and robbed by three men who stole a two-figure sum.

The victim sustained minor facial injuries, but did not require medical treatment.

The first suspect is described as a white man, aged 28-30, with shaved fair hair, and a Polish accent. He was wearing a white t-shirt, grey joggers and white footwear.

The second suspect is also a white man, aged 28-30, with a Polish accent. He had short dark hair and was wearing a dark-coloured jumper.

The third is a white man, also aged 28-30, with dark hair.

The three men were last seen heading towards Granton Road.

Detective Constable Mark Seymour said: “This was a shocking attack in broad daylight and we’re confident that there will have been people in the area at the time who can help us to identify these men.

“Anyone who can help with our enquiries is urged to come forward and we’d like to reassure the community that there will be additional patrols in the local area over the coming days as part of our enquiries to trace them.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Murphy: ‘Overwhelmed by history and by circumstance’

‘We will be again the change that working people need’ – Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy

Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy has responded to his party’s near wipeout in yesterday’s general election by promising to fight to make Labour the natural voice for working people once again.

Time is not on his side. The party that has dominated the Scottish political scene for so long – in the industrial heartlands it’s said they used to weigh the Labour votes, not count them – has been reduced to one solitary MP: and the Scottish Parliamentary Elections are just a year away.

Mr Murphy, who lost his own East Renfrewshire seat last night, divides opinion both inside and outside the Labour Party, but it will come as no surprise to many that he’s decided to tough it out while Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage (perhaps!) have called it a day.

He’s a fighter is oor Jim, and in a typically combative message to members said Labour will bounce back after having been ‘overwhelmed by history and by circumstance’:

Firstly, thank you.

Thousands of members and activists worked so hard for Labour across Scotland and across the UK for a Labour Government. Your dedication is extraordinary.

I want to thank the 700,000 people across Scotland who voted Labour yesterday. Those people voted for the most radical Scottish Labour manifesto in a generation.

We are coming to terms with a dreadful night for our party.

Far worse than that we have the realisation of a terrible day for Scotland, and for working class people across the UK, as David Cameron forms another government.

The friends and colleagues lost have been faithful servants to our party and forceful advocates for their constituents.

But this isn’t about us. It isn’t about individual’s careers.

Because while we have lost seats the thing that hurts most is the loss of hope that will be felt as we face another five years of a government totally lacking in vision and compassion.

I didn’t stand for leader out of a sense of personal ambition. I stood because I knew that Scottish Labour after losing in 2007 and 2011 and after the emotional hangover of the referendum faced the biggest challenge in our 127 year history.

As Leader I wanted to take responsibility for meeting these challenges and I still do.

Our campaign was energetic and professional on the ground.

But we have been overwhelmed by history and by circumstance. We make no excuses. A party can never blame the electorate.

Scotland deserves a stronger Scottish Labour Party. Working class people need the party back on its feet.

So where now for Scottish Labour?

We have to start from our strengths. And here the success of the SNP strategy offers us a guide on how to move forward.

‘We have been beaten by a party who claimed our heritage, clothed themselves in our values, and copied many of our policies.

We will take confidence in the principles behind our policies and we will renew and retarget them for the Scottish election.

With less than a year to the Scottish Parliament elections. We cannot afford another period of introspection.

People need Labour now.

They need a strong opposition.

They need us to be what we have always been at our best: a voice for working people.

This morning as the sun rose we were hurting.

But in a morning like this, before too long.

We will bounce back.

We will again be the change that working people need.

A message from Mark Lazarowicz

I would like to thank all those who gave me their support in the general election held on 7 May. I was proud of the way we took our message to every street in every part of Edinburgh North & Leith, and although we were unsuccessful, I am sure that the efforts of our team were one of the reasons why I received more votes in 2015 than in the 2010 election.

I have been extremely privileged to have been able to serve the people of Edinburgh North & Leith as their representative in Parliament since 2001, and I thank them for giving me that opportunity.

I congratulate the successful candidate Deidre Brock on her victory. Like all MPs, she can be contacted at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA, switchboard 0207 219 3000.

My constituency office will now close down, and as I am no longer an MP I will not be able to deal with any constituency work. However, Malcolm Chisholm MSP continues to have his constituency office at 5 Croall Place, Leith Walk and can be contacted for any Scottish Parliament matters in the Edinburgh Northern & Leith constituency.

West Pilton short-listed for housing award

Edinburgh excels in 2015 housing design awards shortlist

West Pilton Crescent is among five Edinburgh housing projects shortlisted as part of the 2015 Saltire Housing Design Awards, it was announced today. The social housing development, which was visited by then Housing Minister Margaret Burgess last November, has been nominated in the Multiple Housing Development category.

Recognising housing design excellence throughout Scotland, the Saltire Society’s prestigious awards represent a long-standing commitment to celebrate innovation and excellence in Scottish house building and place-making.

Represented across three of the five available award categories, the shortlisted Edinburgh projects are:

Alterations Renovations and Extensions:

o 1 Rosefield Avenue Lane, Portobello, a refurbishment and extension project to create a desirable family home in the conservation area of Portobello; and

o 38 Ravelston Dykes (above), a modernisation project to upgrade the electrical and plumbing systems, making the house more energy efficient and fit for purpose in the 21^st century

Multiple Housing Development:

o West Pilton Crescent (top), a modern, energy efficient social housing development in a range of unit sizes; and

o Ellersly Road, Wallace Gardens, a high quality accommodation mix of townhouses and apartments that reflects the qualities of Edinburgh’s West Murrayfield Conservation area

Single Dwelling New Build:

o Murphy House, Hart Street, a contemporary new build within the World Heritage Site of the New Town.

The Multiple Housing Development category is particularly strong for 2015 with the Edinburgh projects facing competition from Glasgow projects, Phase 1A of the Glasgow Laurieston Transformation Regeneration Area and the Duke Street / High Street social and affordable housing development.

Also shortlisted in this category is the St Andrews West Burn Lane project, an innovative 14 unit development that had to overcome the challenge of presenting a contemporary housing solution within existing Medieval, Georgian and Victorian dwellings.

The two remaining categories are the Innovation in Housing Award, supported by the Scottish Government and new for 2015, the Landscape in Housing Award. All short-listed entries will receive a Saltire plaque marking their achievement.

The shortlists for all five award categories were announced by the Convenor of the Housing Awards panel, Jude Barber from Glasgow-based Collective Architecture, earlier today.

Those on the shortlist will now be subject to site visits by an expert judging panel consisting of architects, developers, academics, clients and tenants. The judging panel will then decide the winner of each category under the chairmanship of renowned Glasgow-based visual artist Toby Paterson.

The winners will be announced at a special ceremony on 22 June in the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation, with winning projects automatically being considered for the Saltire Medal, which is accompanied by a separate cash prize of £1,500.

Past winners of this coveted accolade include North Gardner Street in Glasgow, the transformation of a semi derelict workshop and office building into a calm, private city house, designed by Cameron Webster Architects and the Artist Residence, in Perth by Fergus Purdie Architects.

Convener of the Saltire Society Housing Design Awards, Jude Barber from Collective Architecture said: “It is my great pleasure to announce the shortlist for the 2015 Saltire Society Housing Design Awards, with the standard of entries as ever being immeasurably high.

“The Housing Design Awards were established to recognise and celebrate Scottish architecture and I am greatly looking forward to the next stage of the process when the panel will have the opportunity to visit the shortlisted sites.”

Jim Tough, Executive Director of the Saltire Society said: ““The Housing Design Awards were the very first Awards scheme initiated by the society, and have been around longer than any other design awards in Scotland.

“Established in 1937, the Awards not only promote the importance of good design and housing for all, but have evolved to help to honour and encourage creativity, excellence and innovation in modern Scottish place-making.

“As we look forward to the forthcoming site visits, I wish all those shortlisted the very best of luck.”

General Election: Edinburgh results in full

The UK Parliamentary General Election results for Edinburgh’s five constituencies have been announced.

The Members of Parliament for each constituency are listed in full below and full details of the results are on the Council website:

Edinburgh East Constituency: Tommy Sheppard, SNP

Edinburgh North & Leith Constituency: Deidre Leanne Brock, SNP

Edinburgh South Constituency: Ian Murray, Labour

Edinburgh South West Constituency: Joanna Catherine Cherry, SNP

Edinburgh West Constituency: Michelle Rhonda Thompson SNP

Speaking earlier this morning, Returning Officer Sue Bruce (above) said: “I’d like to pay tribute to the work of the Council’s election team who have put months of hard work and planning into delivering the election. I would also like to thank Police Scotland, the candidates and their agents and the media for working constructively with us to conduct proceedings properly and efficiently.”

“This is the first time the EICC has been the venue for an election count and I would like to thank Marshall Dallas, Chief Executive, and his team for all their support.”

Turnout: 73.01%
Electorate: 357718
Votes cast: 261165

For further details of the results and the General Election, please see the Elections section of the Council website.

Scotland wakes up to a Tory government

‘It is an extraordinary statement of intent from the people of Scotland. The Scottish lion has roared this morning across the country’ – Alex Salmond MP

Scots are waking up to another Conservative government this morning. A night of high drama has seen David Cameron’s party creep ever closer to an overall majority – despite an unprecedented surge of support for the SNP which saw the party sweep to a remarkable victory in 56 of 59 seats in Scotland.

All of the Scottish results are now in and the map of Scotland is now a bright SNP yellow – only Alistair Carmichael (LibDem), David Mundell (Conservative) and Labour’s Ian Murray survived the SNP onslaught.

Among the big names to taste defeat in Scotland are Jim Murphy, Margaret Curran, Danny Alexander, Charles Kennedy and Douglas Alexander.

On what was a truly dreadful night for the Labour Party in Scotland Ian Murray’s victory in Edinburgh South was the one bright spark on an evening of unrelenting misery as safe seat after safe seat fell to the SNP – Labour lost 40 seats. The LibDems also paid the price for their coalition with the Tories, losing ten of their 11 MPs in Scotland.

Locally, both sitting MPs lost their seats. The result of the 2010 general election saw Labour return five MPs and the LibDems one, but from early in the campaign it’s been clear that change was coming. It came with a vengeance – LibDem Mike Crockart (Edinburgh West) and Labour’s Mark Lazarowicz (North & Leith), Sheila Gilmore (East) and Ricky Henderson – in Alistair Darling’s former South West seat – all lost, swept away in an SNP landslide.

Nationally, Labour did not make the vital gains in marginal seats required to wrest power from the Tories and, as predicted, the LibDems lost heavily across the country. Polls barely shifted throughout a lacklustre campaign down south and at 8am David Cameron is on course to form the next government – the Tories may even scrape to a narrow majority and so would not need the support of Northern Ireland’s DUP.

The more things change, the more they stay the same …

LOCAL RESULTS:

EDINBURGH NORTH & LEITH

DEIRDRIE BROCK (SNP) 23, 742

Mark Lazarowicz (Labour) 18, 145

Iain MacGill (Conservative) 9378

Sarah Beattie-Smith (Green) 3140

Martin Veart (Lib Dem) 2634

Alan Melville (UKIP) 847

Bruce Whitehead (Left Unity) 122

EDINBURGH WEST

MICHELLE THOMSON (SNP) 21, 378

Mike Crockart (Lib Dem) 18, 168

Lyndsay Paterson (Conservative) 6732

Cammy Day (Labour) 6425

Pat Black (Green) 1140

George Inglis (UKIP) 1015

Don’t leave it too late – five hours left to cast your vote

Edinburgh’s vote is in full swing, and while the city’s 145 polling places have not experienced the record numbers of last year’s referendum, business has been described as ‘steady’. Residents have until 10pm tonight to cast their vote.

Around 80% of postal voters have already returned their papers, with a total of 357,929 people registered to take part in the election.

And with barely five hours left to cast your ballot, citizens are being urged to make sure they know where, when and how to vote so they don’t miss out.

Sue Bruce, Returning Officer for Edinburgh, said: “We already have an 80% turnout for postal votes which I think demonstrates the interest in the election.

“We don’t want anyone missing out on this important vote because they are not sure how to. I would urge voters to leave plenty of time to visit their local polling station, and to take great care when filling out their ballot papers.”

Polling places will be open until 10pm tonight, Thursday, 7 May

Information on local polling places can be found on the polling card delivered to homes or on the Council website.

Postal voters who have not yet returned their ballot paper by post will still be able to hand it in at Waverley Court or City Chambers receptions or at any Edinburgh polling place on Thursday.

Those planning to take part in the Election are also being advised to take great care when filling out their ballot paper, by marking a single X next to their choice. Additional comments, marks or mistakes can result in a vote not being counted.

The secrecy of ballot papers is important as it ensures no one feels under pressure to vote in a particular way.

Once your vote has been cast

All votes are secure and accounted for so that the final result can be trusted. Every ballot paper, whether used, unused or spoilt, is accounted for and treated as highly sensitive and confidential. Votes will be counted as soon as possible after the close of the poll at 10pm.

Full details of vote security and counting are available on the Council website.

Cutting edge: demonstration is Out of this World!

Hair and beauty professionals blast off with sci-fi special at Edinburgh College!

Hair, beauty and make-up experts beamed into Edinburgh College to demonstrate their stellar make-over talents as they transformed a model into a science fiction star!

The Out of this World event gave hair and beauty lecturers from colleges across Scotland the chance to learn about the latest techniques from the cutting edge of special effects make-up, using a sci-fi theme to showcase them.

Representatives from Habia (Hair and Beauty Industry Authority) led the professional development session, hosted at the college in partnership with VTCT (Vocational Training Charitable Trust), the awarding organisation for the college’s further education hair and beauty qualifications.Out of this World was presented by Jennifer Lenard and Mark Izzard from the Habia Skills Team, who showed the colleges’ lecturers a range of skills using bald caps, prosthetics and a frame for hair to create an alien look on their model.

Frances Bain, curriculum manager for hair, beauty and complementary therapies at Edinburgh College, said: “It was incredible to see the creativity on show at this event. The techniques demonstrated by the experts from Habia were from the leading edge of the industry, and gave teaching staff from the college and across Scotland a prized insight into how to use these skills and pass them onto students. This event was part of the college’s continuing relationship with VTCT, our sole awarding organisation for our further education courses.”

Applications are open now for a range of hair, beauty and complementary therapy courses and make-up artistry courses starting in August at Edinburgh College. To find out more about these courses, and 900 other courses at the college, visit www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk/courses

Appointments are available for a range of hair treatments and spa therapies at Edinburgh College’s training academy salons at Sighthill, Milton Road and Granton campuses. The academies offer the latest treatments using Elemis, Dermalogica and Wella products, with accessible prices which reflect the different levels of study and expertise of the students who work under the expert guidance of industry professionals.

Visit http://www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk/salons for more details.

For more information about VTCT visit www.vtct.org.uk

Port of Leith sets new homes target: 500 by 2020

26,000 familes on social housing waiting list

More than 200 bids for each new vacancy

Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) is investing £55 million to build nearly 500 new homes in north Edinburgh area by 2020.

PoLHA Chief Executive Keith Anderson said that beyond that date, the future of the development is unclear despite a rapidly increasing demand for homes.

The Association is Leith’s largest social landlord and currently manages over 2,700 properties.

Keith Anderson said: ““Edinburgh continues to have the highest average house prices compared to other cities in Scotland and, combined with stagnating household incomes, is restricting the number of people from becoming home owners, increasing the demand for social housing and for mid market rented housing, as well as open market rented housing.”

In its new five year strategic plan, the Association sets out the challenge facing the city of Edinburgh in terms of the need to increase the supply of housing. The housing list has more than 26,000 registered applicants and demand for social housing remains very high with over 200 bids being received for each new vacancy arising over the past year.

It is estimated that over 1,600 new affordable homes are needed each year for each of the next 10 years to resolve this problem.

Keith Anderson added: “Edinburgh has an acute need and demand for affordable housing now and over the next generation.

“Having explored, over the past three years, new ways to finance development with less reliance on public subsidy, we have come to the conclusion that there are no straightforward alternatives to the traditional mixed funding regime of public subsidy and private finance which will enable rents to remain affordable for people on below average incomes.

“The production of new mid market rented housing in the city has increased over the past two years requiring lower levels of public subsidy. However, it remains unclear whether the current level and volume of subsidy available will enable the delivery of the number of new additional social homes needing to be built.”

As well as investment in new properties, the Association plans to invest a further £8 million in ensuring all its homes meet the required quality standards and including the new Energy Efficiency Standard by the required date of 2020.